CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team did a little bit of everything Friday night, earning a 9-1 win over Northern Kentucky in the opener of a three-game set with the Norse.

 

UC (11-10) moved its record to 7-1 at home this season and scored nine runs on nine hits while getting some strong pitching and a pair of double plays from its defense. NKU fell to 7-12 on the season.

 

Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) was 2-for-3 with a home run and RBI, A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) was 2-of-5 with four RBI and a bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the second inning. Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) scored twice, had two RBIs, a pair of stolen bases and a number of defensive gems in the field.

 

Andrew Zellner (Farmersville, Ohio/Valley View) got the win, moving his record to 2-1. He went four innings, giving up one run on three hits while striking out three and walking one. Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) and Doug Lowe II (Marysville, Ohio/Triad) combined for two innings of scoreless relief while Reese Robinson (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville) scattered to hits over the final three innings, earning a save. Trey Ganns (2-3) took the loss for NKU.

 

// KEY INNINGS

Top of the First

NKU took an early 1-0 lead, taking advantage of former Bearcat Jake Richmond's leadoff double. Ricmond scored when Will Haueter hit a double of his own down the left field line. Zellner induced a ground out and fly out to end the threat.

 

Bottom of the First

UC got one back in the bottom of the frame after a two-out error by the second baseman allowed R.J. Thompson to reach and enabled a hustling Connor McVey to cross the plate and knot things up at one run apiece.

 

Bottom of the Second

Ryan Noda led off a four-run inning with one of the longest home runs at Marge Schott Stadium in recent memory. The Bearcats first baseman tattooed a 3-1 pitch to the deepest park of the ballpark, hitting it just to the right of the batters eye and over the B in the Bearcats outfield sign to plate the go-ahead run. Thomas followed with a single and advanced to second when Haberkorn was hit by a pitch. Rodriguez popped up a bunt to the pitcher for the first out and Mottice walked to load the bases. Bumpass tripled into the left-field corner to clear the bases and was thrown out later trying to score on a fielder's choice. Thompson lined out to center field to close the inning.

 

Bottom of the Fourth

UC added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth on the strength of Manny Rodriguez's base running. Rodriguez led off with a walk, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.

 

Bottom of the Fifth

The Bearcats added two more in the bottom of the fifth. Santiago grounded out and Noda walked. A single by Thomas moved the runner up. Thomas and Noda advanced again on a wild pitch. Haberkorn popped up and Rodriguez doubled to right field to score Noda and Thomas. Ganns induced a popout from Mottice to end the inning.

 

Bottom of the Eighth

UC would add one more run in the bottom of the eight, again on the strength of Rodriguez's base running. Rodriguez drew a leadoff walk and took second on a failed pickoff attempt. After a Mottice groundout, Bumpass doubled down the right-field line to score Rodriguez to end the scoring for UC.

 

GoBEARCATS.COM Baseball Gets 9-1 Win Over NKU Friday - University Of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site University Of Cincinnati

CINCINNATI –The Bearcats jumped out to a 5-1 lead through the first two innings on Friday to defeat the Northern Kentucky baseball team, 9-1, at Marge Schott Stadium in the opener of a three-game series. Due to anticipated thunderstorms on Sunday, the teams will now play a doubleheader at Cincinnati on Saturday beginning at noon with approximately 45 minutes between games one and two. NKU's home game against the Bearcats on Sunday has been canceled.

 

The Norse move to 7-12 overall while Cincinnati improves to 11-10.

 

At the Plate

 

The Norse had six hits, split among six different players. Three of their six hits were doubles.

 

Catcher Will Haueter clubbed a double and had the lone RBI for NKU.

 

Jake Richmond also had a double and scored NKU's run.

 

On the Mound

 

Trey Ganns started on the mound for NKU and threw 5.0 innings, allowing eight runs, six earned. The junior walked three and struck out four.

 

Reliever Seth Rosenberg retired each of the three batters he faced, striking out one.

 

Jordan Menfee also contributed a scoreless inning of work, allowing one hit and fanning one.

 

Joe Martin closed the game and allowed one run and one hit in 1.0 inning pitched.

 

Key Moments

 

Richmond led off the game with a double down the left-field line and scored on a Haueter RBI double to the same spot.

 

The Bearcats scored early and often on Friday. A Norse error in the bottom of the first plated an unearned run to knot the game at 1-1. UC then claimed a 5-1 lead on three hits including a Ryan Noda solo homer in the bottom of the second.

 

Cincinnati plated another unearned run in the bottom of the fourth, then Manny Rodriguez clubbed a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth as NKU trailed 8-1 through five.

 

Rosenberg and Menfee held the Bearcats scoreless, retiring seven of the next eight batters faced.

 

UC scored its final run on an RBI double in the eighth.

 

Norse Notes

 

Richmond extended his reached-base streak to 15 games and has recorded a hit in 13 of the last 14 contests. Ganns (13 games) and Mercurio (12) games also extended their reached-base streaks.

 

Menfee has not allowed an earned run in his 5.2 innings pitched in relief. He has given up just one hit across his four appearances out of the bullpen.

 

In six of his nine total appearances, Rosenberg has tossed at least one inning without allowing a run.

 

@NKUNorseBSB falls at Cincinnati; Weekend schedule altered - NKU Athletics